The way of Tao Berman is to conquer rivers while taking risks. He holds the world record for making the highest drop from a waterfall. Above: Berman negotiates a drop in the south fork of the Tuolumne River near Yosemite National Park last spring. Top: He paddles down one of a series of waterfalls on the Sheep River in British Columbia earlier this month. less

The way of Tao Berman is to conquer rivers while taking risks. He holds the world record for making the highest drop from a waterfall. Above: Berman negotiates a drop in the south fork of the Tuolumne River ... more

Photo: Jock Bradley

The way of Tao Berman is to conquer rivers while taking risks. He... Photo-906476.12809 - seattlepi.com

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Jennifer Rufer hugs jury foreman Rolf Johannessen after winning her lawsuit against Abbott Laboratories and the University of Washington.

Jennifer Rufer hugs jury foreman Rolf Johannessen after winning her lawsuit against Abbott Laboratories and the University of Washington.

Jes Dimas, a Boeing Co. recruiter, helps to expedite the application process by reviewing resumes of prospective employees who stood in line in downtown Chicago yesterday in hopes of landing a job at the new soon-to-be-opened Boeing headquarters in Chicago. More than 2,200 people lined the streets to submit applications. less

Jes Dimas, a Boeing Co. recruiter, helps to expedite the application process by reviewing resumes of prospective employees who stood in line in downtown Chicago yesterday in hopes of landing a job at the new ... more